Xbox Game Pass is a solid subscription if you aren't too bothered about owning a lot of the games you play, even with the recent, and pretty exorbitant, price increases.
The hazard comes as you could, at basically any point, lose access to a game if it's removed from the service, leaving you halfway through the story or part way to the level cap in your favourite multiplayer.
That obviously comes as part of how the business world works, with most games being removed as their contracts with Xbox come to an end. Obviously the biggest hits are usually renewed alongside the new additions, but anything is effectively on the chopping block at any point.
Now, five more games are on the way out, including arguably one of the best games of 2024, and fans aren't too happy about it.
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Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl Leaving Game Pass
As part of their regular communications with press and players, Xbox confirmed the five games that would be leaving Game Pass at the end of the month:
- Football Manager 24
- Spirittea
- Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl
- Blacksmith Master (Game Preview)
- Frostpunk
Football Manager 24 leaving makes a lot of sense, as they try to push players towards the latest version of the game (which is also now on Game Pass). Frostpunk leaving will be galling to quite a few, with the brutal city builder having a loyal player base who continue to forge a life for themselves in the frozen wastes.
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All of that in mind, the big news is that Stalker 2 will be removed after only hitting the service a year ago. In a post sharing that revelation on Reddit, fans were keen to share their distaste.
"It’s really frustrating seeing Stalker 2 leave Game Pass. Game is still a buggy mess, so for those who were waiting on this game to be patched, I guess we’re screwed," one comment read.
"There's a few things I needed to finish up before I finish the game so I guess I better get too it. I've really enjoyed Stalker 2 though, it feels pretty unique even if it is a little janky," another added.
Now it's important to note here that the game is set to release on 20 November for PlayStation 5, so it's likely that licensing issues will have played a part in the decision to take Stalker 2 off Game Pass, even if it doesn't benefit the other side of the console pond.
Topics: Xbox Game Pass